jon scheyer delivered a blunt update Wednesday (ET) as Duke prepared to open the NCAA Tournament at 2: 50 pm ET in Greenville, South Carolina, against 16-seed Siena. The Duke head coach said sophomore center Patrick Ngongba is “very unlikely” to play Thursday because of foot soreness. Duke enters the Round of 64 as the No. 1 overall seed, but the immediate focus has shifted to health and availability.
What we know right now in Greenville
Duke’s Round of 64 tip is scheduled for 2: 50 pm ET, with the Blue Devils facing Siena in Greenville, SC. Duke comes into the game as a widely favored contender and the No. 1 overall seed, but the roster situation is tense: the team is dealing with “a couple of key injuries” and is expected to be without two starters at least for the Round of 64. The long-term status for both players was described as unknown, underscoring that Duke’s early path in the bracket may depend on how quickly key pieces can return.
Ngongba’s recent timeline is clear. He last played on March 2 in Duke’s 93–64 win at NC State. Since then, he missed the regular-season finale at Cameron Indoor Stadium against North Carolina and also missed the entire ACC Tournament.
jon scheyer on Patrick Ngongba’s status: “Very unlikely” Thursday
Speaking Wednesday (ET), Jon Scheyer, head coach of Duke, said Ngongba has been improving but remains a long shot to suit up for the opener.
“He’s been progressing… but think it’s very unlikely that he plays [Thursday], ” Jon Scheyer said Wednesday. “We’re taking it day by day. He’s itching to play, but we’re not quite there just yet…. We’ll do everything we can to get ready for Saturday and go from there. ”
The injury at the center of the update is foot soreness. While the expectation is that Ngongba could be back relatively quickly during the NCAA Tournament, the immediate reality is that Thursday appears too soon.
Why Duke’s injury situation matters in this region
Duke enters what was described as arguably the toughest region, the East, where defensive strength is a theme from top to bottom. The top five seeds in the East Region are ranked inside the top 20 at KenPom in adjusted defensive efficiency, and the region features physical bigs that could challenge Duke in the paint.
That’s why losing frontcourt availability—especially at the start of a one-and-done tournament—lands as more than a routine update. Duke has been characterized as one of the most popular picks to win the national title and is described as arguably the best defensive team in college basketball, led by National Player of the Year frontrunner Cameron Boozer. But in a region built to test toughness and interior depth, even one absence can reshape rotations quickly.
What’s next before tip and beyond
With the opener set for 2: 50 pm ET Thursday, Duke’s immediate task is navigating Siena while managing a roster expected to be short-handed. The clearest next checkpoint is whether Duke can get healthier in time for Saturday, the timeline Jon Scheyer pointed to as the next target in Ngongba’s recovery plan.
For now, jon scheyer has framed the situation in simple terms: day-by-day decisions, a player eager to return, and a staff pushing to have options as the bracket moves forward.
